Conference Education Sessions

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EDUCATION SESSIONS

Tuesday, 5/12/29

Conference Opening/General Session Keynote l 8:45 AM - 10:00 AM

Breakthrough Leadership  l  Brian Biro

Ultimately, no matter what industry you're involved in, you are in the BREAKTHROUGH business! In the apartment industry, everyday you seek to breakthrough with your residents to generate satisfaction and positive relationships. The key to lasting success in business is breaking through with team members and ourselves so we eagerly embrace personal responsibility, committed purpose, and leadership. We must see ourselves as Breakthrough Leaders. And, especially in times of challenge, we must focus on what we CAN do rather than wasting time and energy on the things we don't control. This one-of-a-kind presentation ignites the energy and true leadership potential in every participant. Breakthrough leadership is full spectrum leadership that teaches participants to shape their future, energize and engage their teams, and build people, teams, and relationships. Every participant will gain new appreciation for their impact on others, personally and professionally.

Education Breakout Sessions l 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM

"Is It Just Us, or Are People... A LOT Lately?"  l  Virginia Love & Kara Rice

Secrets to Satisfaction: How to Win Over Today’s Toughest Prospects, Residents & Teammates    Let’s be real—have you noticed that people are kind of… a lot these days? Whether it’s demanding prospects, drama-prone residents, overly opinionated co-workers, or even your sweet but exhausting Aunt Carol, it seems like everyone is operating at max intensity. And when the pressure's on, it can lead to unhappy customers, missed leases, burned-out teams, and a serious hit to your retention and revenue.    Sound familiar?    Join Kara and Virginia as they dive into the current state of satisfaction (or lack thereof) in the multifamily world. They’ll share the latest data on what residents and employees really want—and why they’re more high-maintenance than ever. But don’t worry, this session isn’t just a therapy session (though it might feel like one!). You’ll leave with real-world strategies, smart insights, and a few laughs along the way.    Walk in with stress, walk out with solutions—and maybe a renewed sense of hope for humanity.

Living La Vida Leasing  l  Rebecca Rosario

Leasing can be fast, fun, and full of challenges—and this session will help you thrive through it all. In just one hour, you'll learn how to build real confidence, sharpen your leasing funnel, and close more leases with ease. Discover the power of the Three Critical Questions, how to appeal to all five senses, and ways to shift from salesperson to trusted advisor. You'll also gain tips for presenting renewal increases confidently and refining your closing techniques. Whether you're new or experienced, this session will give you the tools to energize your leasing approach and level up your results.

Human Heart, Artificial Brain: Leveraging EI In The Age Of AI  l  Marci French

As artificial intelligence continues to shape how we work and interact, the value of emotional intelligence has never been more critical. This session explores why human connection remains at the heart of successful organizations—even in an increasingly tech-driven world. Attendees will gain insight into the evolving relationship between AI and emotional intelligence, understand the impact of AI on human interaction, and walk away with practical strategies for applying emotional intelligence to leadership, communication, and customer service.

Hall of Fame Series Session

Education Breakout Sessions l 11:35 AM - 12:35 PM

Maintenance Feud: Game Show Edition  l  Mark Sharp

Get ready for a high-energy, “Family Feud”-style game that puts your maintenance knowledge to the test! Using live polling through Kahoot, this interactive session invites full audience participation as we tackle real-world maintenance scenarios faced in multifamily communities. You'll walk away with reinforced best practices, practical solutions, and maybe even a few bragging rights—all while having a blast. Whether you're on the tools or leading a team, this is maintenance training like you’ve never experienced before!

UNMUTED: What Happens When Women Stop Playing Small  l  Danielle Davies

Women are praised for being agreeable—but in the silence, something powerful is lost. In this candid, story-driven keynote, cultural commentator and podcast host Danielle Davies explores the emotional cost of being muted in professional spaces—and what companies risk when they reward silence over honesty. UNMUTED reframes visibility and voice not as noise or self-promotion, but as strategy—crucial to leadership, team cohesion, and employee retention. With humor and emotional truth, Danielle unpacks how self-silencing shows up in women at all levels—from site staff to senior leadership—and how reclaiming voice improves everything from communication to morale. Perfect for those looking to lead with greater empathy, build stronger teams, and create work cultures where everyone speaks up—and is heard.

Meet Me in The Middle; Leading and Influencing Without a Title  l  Ishea Shepherd

Being a manager is hard work, managing managers is even harder. In property management, middle leaders are caught between the demands of corporate teams and the daily realities of on-site operations. The result? Pressure. Lots of it. This session focuses on helping middle managers recognize the unique stressors of their role and, more importantly, how to release that pressure before it builds to burnout. Participants will learn practical, real-world strategies to manage up, support their teams, and create simple “release valves” that bring clarity, reduce overwhelm, and drive results. Through relatable stories, humor, and hands-on activities, attendees will walk away with a toolkit of actionable techniques they can apply immediately. Whether it's advocating for your team, setting boundaries, or strengthening communication, this session will show you how to lead from the middle with more influence, less frustration, and a little more breathing room.

Hall of Fame Series Session

Education Breakout Sessions l 4:10 PM - 5:10 PM

Legal Issues & Updates  l  Jared Schmidt & Samantha Simpson

Stay ahead of the curve with this must-attend legal and legislative update designed specifically for the multifamily housing industry. This session will cover critical developments in laws and regulations that directly impact your operations. From newly enacted legislation to pending proposals and anticipated regulatory changes, our expert speakers will break down what’s happening now—and what’s coming next—so you can better understand the implications for your business and stay prepared.

Tackling the Toughest Mental Health Challenges in Multifamily Maintenance  l  Mark Sharp

Maintenance professionals face unique challenges that can impact their mental well-being, including high stress levels, physical strain, demanding schedules, and limited recognition. This course explores the key stressors affecting maintenance workers and provides practical strategies for managing mental health in a high-pressure environment.  Participants will learn effective coping techniques, including stress management routines, physical wellness practices, and work-life balance strategies. The course also highlights workplace initiatives that employers can implement to support employee well-being, such as mental health resources, enhanced safety measures, and positive work culture improvements.  By the end of this course, maintenance professionals and employers alike will have actionable tools to foster a healthier, more supportive work environment. Whether you’re a worker looking to reduce stress or a leader aiming to improve workplace wellness, this course offers valuable insights to promote mental health in the maintenance industry.  

Resident Experience in a Doordash World  l  Lisa Trosien

Today’s residents are living curated, fast-paced lives—where everything from groceries to entertainment is delivered on demand. But behind the convenience is a growing sense of disconnection. In this session, we’ll rethink resident service through a modern lens: one that blends usefulness, emotional awareness, and intentional connection. You’ll learn how to deliver service that feels immediate and real, without sounding robotic—and how to create resident experiences that people actually want to attend. We’ll cover how to reduce friction, respond with purpose, and design events that ease loneliness instead of adding to the noise. Because in a “skip intro” world, your service still needs to make someone stay.

Allyship: What, Why and How  l  Rebecca Rosario

The word ally comes from the Latin alligare, meaning “to bind to”—but in today’s workplace, it means so much more. What does it truly mean to be an ally? How can you show up with sincerity, without overstepping or getting it wrong? And what does allyship look like at an organizational level? If you’ve ever felt curious, uncertain, or self-conscious about how to be a better ally, this session is for you. We’ll break down the difference between allyship, advocacy, and sponsorship; explore the key elements of effective allyship; and discuss real ways to foster allyship in your workplace and beyond. Leave with clarity, confidence, and actionable ideas to support a more inclusive culture.

General Session  l  5:20 PM - 6:20 PM

Wednesday, 5/13/26

Education Breakout Sessions l  9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

AI in Action: How Smart Multifamily Pros are Saving Time, Money, and Their Sanity!  l  Pam Pederson

Feeling overwhelmed by leasing tasks, resident communication, and social media? Imagine if repetitive chores could vanish, freeing your team to focus on what truly matters. In this eye-opening session, multifamily AI enthusiast Pam shares practical strategies and success stories of using AI in everyday property management. Learn how tools like ChatGPT, Canva, Gamma, and Synthesia can streamline workflows, boost productivity, and improve resident experiences. Pam will demo real prompts tackling common challenges and share how AI transformed her efficiency and work-life balance. Walk away with actionable tips and the confidence to make AI your new secret weapon.

Trend Hacks: What Today’s Renters Actually Want  l  Lisa Trosien

Renter behavior has shifted—and it’s not about what you’re offering, but how it’s being perceived. This session breaks down the psychology behind today’s leasing decisions, revealing why some communities stand out while others get skipped. We’ll unpack what renters are drawn to, what pushes them away, and how persuasive moments shape every choice they make. It’s not about louder marketing—it’s about smarter influence. You’ll learn how to identify hidden decision drivers, use subtle persuasion strategies in your messaging and tours, and align your leasing experience with what renters actually care about right now.    

Education Breakout Sessions l  10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Security and Your Residents  l  Karl de la Guerra

You know how to build a relationship and provide exceptional service. But, have you thought about how to ensure your member’s safety when it comes to business relations?  Karl brings more than 40 years of law enforcement and international corporate security management experience to give you the tools you need to consider when it comes to the safety and security of you, your members, and those for whom you are responsible. Key takeaways from a session with Karl will have you ready to implement real solutions: 1) Recognize points of vulnerability from the eyes of the criminal. 2) The importance of prior planning for a potential emergency event. 3) How building certain community relationships makes you safer.    

Be the Brand: Defining & Living Your Value in the Workplace  l  Candice Manning

Whether you're climbing the ladder or pivoting careers, your personal brand is already speaking for you—whether you’ve shaped it intentionally or not. In this interactive session, you’ll explore how you’re perceived, clarify what sets you apart, and learn how to align your brand with your authentic self. We’ll break down the difference between reputation and personal brand, why perception matters, and how to use storytelling and social platforms to amplify your message—without feeling like you’re selling yourself. Walk away with clarity, confidence, and practical steps to start owning your narrative.

Conference Closing/General Session Keynote l 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

How To Turn It Up And Unleash Your Inner Multi-Family Rock Star  l  "Marvelless" Mark Kamp

"Turn It Up Culture" is a high-energy keynote experience created and delivered by Marvelless Mark®, a renowned keynote speaker, entertainer, and business performance strategist. This program is designed to help you crank up your company culture to rock star levels—boosting engagement, team alignment, collaboration, and peak performance every day. Learn to lead like a rock star: the power of the pivot. and how to achieve more by doing less with a bigger vision and dream. Drawing on stories from iconic rock bands and artists who’ve scaled from garages to global stages, Turn It Up Culture teaches actionable strategies through the lens of rock star success. Think: how U2’s alignment kept them together for decades, or how KISS turned their brand into a global empire—not just by playing loud, but by thinking big. How Taylor Swift pours into her fans.    It’s not just a keynote—it’s a culture-shifting performance that uses rhythm, drumming, music, and motivation to create lasting impact.    Want your team to think bigger, move faster, and play louder together?  Then it’s time to Turn It Up.

Questions? Email info@aanconline.org.